Oct. 19, 2007
TACOMA, Wash. -
by Wendy Carpenter, Tacoma News Tribune sports
Western Washington University outside linebacker Shane Simmons knows what it's like to have to watch from the sideline.
The senior from Kentlake High School was leading all NCAA Division II players in solo tackles per game (9.8) last season before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the final five games.
"It's just one of those things where you realize what you have when it's gone," Simmons said this week. "It was super tough sitting out last year. I didn't know if I could play again (it was a possible career-ending injury) and when I realized that I was going to be able to, it was awesome."
Much rehabilitation later, Simmons is back with the Vikings this season. And he is one of the few healthy players on a defense that has been hampered by injuries - almost half of Western's projected preseason starters have missed playing time because of injuries.
But not Simmons, who enters the Vikings' game Saturday against Central Washington University - the "Battle in Seattle" at Qwest Field - leading the North Central Conference in tackles with 78 (an average of 13.0 a game), including five for losses.
"I know how it is (to be out with an injury) so I try to tell the guys this year how it is," the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Simmons said. "It puts a different perspective on things. In the offseason, I just worked that much harder and that much more because I know how quickly it can be taken away from you.
"This year, my shoulder has been great."
As has Simmons, who played three games as a true freshman at Idaho before transferring to Western. He was a second-team all-NCC pick last season - after playing in four conference games, six total - and a second-team D2football.com preseason All-American this fall.
Simmons had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in Western's upset of UC Davis on Sept. 1, the Vikings' first win over an NCAA Division I opponent - Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) - since 2003. He also forced a fumble in the final seconds to preserve Western's 18-15 win against St. Cloud State on Oct. 6.
Simmons has also been recognized during losses, and was named the conference co-player of the week after being credited with 18 tackles (10 solo) in the Vikings' 22-14 loss at Minnesota Duluth on Sept. 29.
Without him, it's hard to imagine how bad the league's worst defense - allowing a league-high 31.7 points a game and 453.2 yards a game - might be.
"Having Shane back has been great," second-year Western coach Robin Ross said Thursday. "He's a big reason why we have been improving on defense."
While Western (2-4 overall, 1-4 NCC) is tied for seventh place in the nine-team conference, it is starting to get healthy.
After getting hurt against the Aggies, NCC honorable mention defensive tackle Junior Aumavae returned two weeks ago and resumed his starting role last week. Junior defensive back Maurice Jones, from Spanaway Lake High School, returned from academic ineligibility four games ago and redshirt freshman defensive back Zach Schrader should be available Saturday.
"It kind of feels like I've been one of the only healthy defensive players)," Simmons said. "(The injuries) have been tough, but every football team deals with it. It's how you respond from that that can make the difference."
